• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Billi's Kitchen
  • Recipes
  • Spices & Spreads
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Categories
  • Stir-Fry
  • About Me
  • Policy
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Categories
    • Stir-Fry
    • About Me
    • Policy
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Mains

    One Pot Italian Sausage and Rice

    Published: May 10, 2021 · Updated: Sep 16, 2024 by Billi · This post contains some affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Italian Sausage and Rice is packed with flavor in every spoonful! A delicious one-pot dish that's perfect for your weeknight dinner --- you'll surely ask for seconds!

    An overhead shot of a skillet of Sausage and Rice, ready for serving.

    I got the idea for this dish from one of my favorite rice dishes --- Portuguese Tomato Rice.  I tweaked it a bit, then added some Italian sausage for another layer of flavor.

    The result? The Italian sausage takes center stage, blending with the tomatoes and coating the rice with it.  It's a complete delectable meal in every serving! 

    If you don't believe me, check out these reviews from Pinterest! 😀

    Reader comments for Italian sausage and rice, excellent for leftovers as well.
    Second reader comments for one pot Italian sausage and rice, easy to prepare and delicious.

    Another reader (in the comment section) even had the brilliant idea of using the leftovers for a burrito.

    So, yep, it's a proven recipe that works and delivers, so enjoy it, and remember to make extra!

    FOR MORE ONE-POT MEALS, YOU SHOULD ALSO TRY THESE DISHES!

    • Feature image for Italian Sausage with Vegetables, showing the dish in a bowl with some crunchy bread.
      Italian Sausage Stew with Vegetables
    • A serving of baked meatballs in sauce, with slices of bread.
      Baked Meatballs in Sauce

    Ingredients

    An image showing all the ingredients you need to prepare sausage and rice at home.
    • Tomatoes - you don't specifically need cherry tomatoes, as long as they're fresh and juicy.
    • Italian sausage - keep them in their casing, and slice into small rounds.
    • Onion - yellow onion would be excellent for this sausage rice recipe.
    • Garlic - minced or sliced thinly, whichever is easier for you.
    • Celery - chop it thinly.
    • Rice - I strongly suggest using basmati rice since they don't get mushy quickly.
    • Olive oil - extra virgin, if possible
    • Dried parsley & oregano - feel free to use fresh ones, if you prefer.
    • Salt & pepper - just use your favorite brand.
    • Stock - I always use chicken stock for making one-pot sausage and rice.
    An overhead shot of Italian Sausage on a plate, with fresh cherry tomatoes and parsley on the background.

    How to make one pot Italian sausage meal

    Start by heating olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat.

    Once the oil is ready, start frying the sliced sausages until cooked.

    Frying the sausage lightly is the first step in making italian sausage and rice.

    Set them aside; adjust the heat into medium, then add the garlic and onion.  

    Cook until the onions are softened, and add the chopped celery.

    Sauteing for onions and celery for the base flavor before adding the rice, stock, and sausage.

    Mix and cook for a few minutes, then add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, dried parsley, and dried oregano.

    Tomato based sauce is perfect for rice and sausage, with some dried herbs.

    Mix, cover, and cook for a few minutes, just until some of the juices of the tomatoes have come out.

    Add the rice.

    Adding the rice once the sauce from the tomatoes are out, base for the sausage.

    Mix to coat the rice evenly, then add the stock.

    Pouring the stock to cook the rice, with the pieces of tomatoes submerged in it, for the sausage later.

    Cover with a lid, adjust the heat back to medium-high, and bring to a boil.

    Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the rice is cooked, occasionally stirring to make sure nothing sticks at the bottom of the pan.  It generally takes eighteen to twenty minutes.

    Taste and adjust the seasoning, then place the sausage slices randomly in the cooked rice.

    Adding back the browned sausage from earlier, absorbing the flavor of the rice.

    Place the lid back, turn off the heat, and leave it covered for two minutes.

    Serve with fresh parsley as a garnish, if desired.

    A closer shot of a pan of Italian Sausage and Rice, highlighting the texture of the dish.

    Helpful tips

    • Remove some of the oil in the skillet if you think there is too much left after cooking the sausage.
    • Make sure you chop all the vegetables finely. They all need to dissolve (almost) once the rice is ready.
    • Do not forget to taste and adjust the seasoning while the rice is cooking, not when you're about to add the sausage back.
    A closer shot of a plate of sausage and rice, with fresh cherry tomatoes and parsely on the background.

    Recipe variation

    • Tomato sauce. If you cannot find any good tomatoes, canned chunky tomatoes are a good alternative.
    • Herbs and chili. You can add your other favorite dried herbs and chili flakes if you want a bit of heat in this one-pot sausage and rice.
    • Stock. Use vegetable or beef stock if that's what you have on hand. 

    See how easy it is?  Perfect for a weeknight dinner, right?  Give it a try, and let me know in the comment section!

    OR GET MORE IDEAS FROM THIS LIST OF EASY DINNER RECIPES!

    • Easy lentils and rice in a pan, ready for transferring into serving plates.
      Lentils with Rice
    • Feature image for easy ground pork stir fry, with the dish served on top of steamed white rice.
      Easy Ground Pork Stir Fry

    📖 Recipe

    An overhead shot of Italian Sausage on a plate, with fresh cherry tomatoes and parsley on the background.

    One-Pot Italian Sausage and Rice Recipe

    Italian Sausage and Rice is packed with flavor in every spoonful! A delicious one-pot dish that's perfect for your weeknight dinner --- you'll surely ask for seconds!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 463kcal
    Author: Neriz

    Equipment

    • Measuring cups
    • Measuring spoons
    • Cast iron skillet (8-inch)
    • Rubber spatula

    Ingredients

    • 2 tsp olive oil
    • 2 links Italian sausage, sliced into rounds
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 small onion, chopped finely
    • 1 stalk celery, chopped finely
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped roughly
    • 1/2 cup rice
    • 1 & 1/2 cup stock, hot/boiling
    • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
    • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
    • salt & pepper, to season
    • fresh parsley, to garnish (optional)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Using a small skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.
    • Once it's ready, start frying the sliced sausages until cooked.
    • Set them aside, then adjust the heat into medium and add the garlic and onion.  Cook until the onions softened.
    • Add the chopped celery; mix and cook for a few minutes.
    • Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, dried parsley, and dried oregano.
    • Mix, cover, and cook for a few minutes, just until some of the juices of the tomatoes have come out.
    • Add the rice and mix to coat it evenly.
    • Add the stock.
    • Cover with a lid, adjust the heat back to medium-high, and bring to a boil.
    • Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer until the rice is cooked, occasionally stirring to make sure nothing sticks at the bottom of the pan.  It generally takes 18 to 20 minutes.
    • Taste and adjust the seasoning, then place the slices of sausage randomly in the cooked rice.
    • Place the lid back, turn off the heat, and leave it covered for two minutes.
    • Serve your Italian sausage with rice, garnished with fresh parsley, if desired.

    Notes

    • Cook's Tip #1:  Feel free to remove some of the oil in the skillet if you think there is too much left after cooking the sausage.
    • Cook's Tip #2:  Make sure you chop all the vegetables finely. They all need to dissolve (almost) once the rice is ready.
    • Cook's Tip #3:  Do not forget to taste and adjust the seasoning while the rice is cooking, not when you're about to add the sausage back.
    • Variation #1:  Tomato sauce. If you cannot find any good tomatoes, canned chunky tomatoes are a good alternative.
    • Variation #2:  Herbs and chili. You can add your other favorite dried herbs and chili flakes if you want a bit of heat in this one-pot sausage and rice.
    • Variation #3:  Stock. Use vegetable or beef stock if that's what you have on hand.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 463kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 737mg | Potassium: 540mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 307IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg

    More Mains

    • A closer shot of baked cheesy and ham gnocchi, showing its golden colour and crunchy bits.
      Ham and Cheese Gnocchi
    • A plate of gnocchi, bacon and peas, lightly fried in a pan.
      Pan-Fried Gnocchi with Bacon
    • Easy baked gnocchi fresh out of the oven, highlighting its golden colour.
      Easy Baked Gnocchi
    • A bowl of mushroom potato stew, ready for serving.
      Potato Stew with Mushrooms

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Line Lamothe

      July 14, 2023 at 2:47 am

      I really enjoyed this dish. It was quick and simple. I made a few tweaks to it using what I had on hand. I used regular long grain rice, vegetable broth, and substituted orange pepper for the celery. I also added paprika and fresh cilantro. It was delicious and will definitely be adding it into my meal rotation.

      Reply
      • Billi

        December 13, 2023 at 11:19 am

        Love the suggestions Line --- thank you!

        Reply
      • Jody

        September 13, 2024 at 3:02 am

        5 stars
        Hey there....
        Made this last night for dinner, added some chopped red pepper , my husband loved it(so did I), he made breakfast burritos yummy.
        Thanks for the recipe.

        Reply
        • Billi

          September 13, 2024 at 12:29 pm

          Thank you so much for your comment Jody! I will try the excellent burrito idea this weekend. 🙂

          Reply
    2. Karen G

      October 03, 2023 at 3:44 am

      5 stars
      Will be making this again! Did not use celery as I didn't have any. Used italian seasoning and oregano. I tripled the recipe. Had one big fresh tomato and added a can of diced tomatoes.
      Delicious and easy.

      Reply
      • Billi

        December 13, 2023 at 11:18 am

        Thank you Karen!

        Reply
    3. Sonja

      December 08, 2023 at 1:56 am

      5 stars
      I kept rereading the ingredients as I was prepping thinking I was missing something. I love how minimal the ingredient list is, I was worried it was going to be bland but it was not. Very tasty, hearty meal I hope to make again but maybe with a different protein. My husband and I are not a fan of celery but in this recipe it added a nice note & he had no clue it was even in there. I’m so used to adding cheese in every meal it was nice to not need it in this dish. I plan on trying more of your recipes since this one turned out well.

      Reply
      • Billi

        December 13, 2023 at 11:17 am

        Thank you for your comment Sonja. 🙂 Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    4. Beth Brim

      June 03, 2024 at 11:26 pm

      5 stars
      So EASY! and soo delicious. I doubled the recipe and didn't have oregano so i used italian seasoning, and i had fresh parsley instead of dried. URgh! so good and versitile can definitely switch things up depending on what you have on hand. Thanks again! Oh, and TODDLER approved 🙂

      Reply
      • Billi

        June 06, 2024 at 12:21 pm

        Thanks for your feedback Beth --- much appreciated! Oh! Toddler approved is a winner. 🙂

        Reply
    5 from 4 votes

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    WELCOME TO MY KITCHEN!

    Expect to find tons of easy and quick-to-prepare recipes in here, all ending up the same way --- a delicious serving on a plate.

    So, feel free to take a look around and pick some favorites.

    Learn more about me

    FAVORITES

    • Feature image for Thin-Sliced Pork Belly Stir Fry showing it served with white rice, garnished with spring onions.
      Thin-Sliced Pork Belly Stir Fry
    • Feature image for easy orange pound cake, showing the inside to highlight the softness of the cake.
      Easy Orange Pound Cake
    • Feature image for crispy air fryer gnocchi, highlighting the dried herbs and grated cheese.
      Crispy Air Fryer Gnocchi
    • Latest (Apr23) feature image for Easy Ham Fried Rice, showing it served on a plate.
      Easy Ham Fried Rice
    • A serving of baked meatballs in sauce, with slices of bread.
      Baked Meatballs in Sauce
    • Feature image for Italian Sausage with Vegetables, showing the dish in a bowl with some crunchy bread.
      Italian Sausage Stew with Vegetables
    • An overhead shot of slices of mushroom tart on a plate, with some shredded cheese and fresh parsley on top; cremini mushrooms are next to the plate.
      Mushroom Tart with Puff Pastry
    • Feature image for one pan chicken with cherry tomatoes, served with some toasted bread.
      Chicken with Cherry Tomatoes (One Pan!)

    BREAKFAST IDEAS

    • Feature image for rice flour pancakes, showing a stack of them, with almond slices on top.
      Easy Rice Flour Pancakes
    • Latest feature image for lemon muffins with yogurt, fresh from the oven.
      Easy Lemon Muffins with Yogurt
    • Freshly baked cinnamon muffins, cooling on a rack, ready for serving.
      Easy Cinnamon Muffins
    • An overhead shot of slices of date and nut bread on a cooling rack.
      Spiced Date Nut Bread

    PASTA DISHES

    • Feature image for Italian sausage and peppers pasta, showing the dish on a plate, topped with grated cheese and fresh basil.
      Italian Sausage and Peppers Pasta
    • An overhead shot of a serving of creamy mascarpone pasta, topped with grated cheese and fresh parsley.
      15-Minute Tomato and Mascarpone Pasta
    • Feature image for Pasta with Ham and Peas, showing it on a plate, with grated cheese and black pepper as garnish.
      Pasta with Ham and Peas
    • Feature image for easy chorizo pasta, showing the dish on a plate, with a bit of freshly grated cheese.
      Easy Chorizo Pasta
    • Latest featured image for Pancetta pasta with tomatoes, showing a serving of the dish.
      Pancetta Pasta with Tomatoes (25-Minute Meal!)
    • Latest (Apr23) feature image of spicy Italian sausage pasta showing the dish served on a plate.
      Creamy & Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta
    • An overhead shot of a serving of pasta with mushrooms and asparagus, with fresh button mushrooms in the background.
      Creamy Mushroom Asparagus Pasta
    • Feature image for Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta showing a serving of the dish.
      Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta

    Footer

    Policy

    • Privacy Policy

    Contact

    • About Me

    Copyright

    • Notes on Copyright

    A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM.

    Copyright © 2025 . BILLI'S KITCHEN

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.